May’s commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe reminds me of the sacrifices made by the “greatest generation.” Back then, the President’s son volunteered for the dangerous duty of fighting behind enemy lines. Apparently, he didn’t have bone spurs. But it took a lot of backbone to risk his life to defend his country. I was only a little kid then, but I do not remember anyone claiming stories of the Holocaust were overblown “fake news.” Nazis weren’t as fashionable in May 1945 as they are today.
The war killed 291,557 Americans in four years. At the rate we're going, COVID-19 may catch up to that this year. This time we don't die in defense of our country, although some politicians suggest dying in defense of corporate profits. Today's hippies don't want to give up their constitutional right to "do their own thing." Wearing a mask, honoring the 6-foot guideline and avoiding crowds apparently are too much of a sacrifice for this generation.
The other day I bought a couple of sandwiches at a local convenience store. After I put my debit card back into my wallet, a maskless woman stood next to me and blocked my way out of the store. If we both die from COVID-19, I doubt America will bury us in Arlington National Cemetery.
Geoff Kennedy
Anchorage
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